Hand Sanitizing: 10 Tips for Avoiding Swine Flu and Catching Other Germs and Bacteria

With fears of swine flu and catching other flu and germs that can be easily spread, there are certain steps that can be taken to help reduce the spreading of bacteria and contamination.

Follow these 10 tips to recognize when you should be washing your hands or using sanitizer.

1. Wash or sanitize hands before eating food and when preparing food. You may have to wash your hands multiple times when preparing food because there are many steps involved where you often touch other objects, including your face or nose or refrigerator handles, etc. It is better to be safe than sorry when it comes to the possibility of being exposed to swine flu, other flus or germs.

2. Wash or sanitize hands before and after tending to someone who is not feeling well.

3. Wash or sanitize hands before and after treating a cut or wound.

4. Wash or sanitize hands before and after handling any kind of pet or animal.

5. Wash or sanitize hands before and after handling any toilet seat, both public and in private homes.

6. Wash or sanitize hands before and after handling dirty laundy.

7. Wash or sanitize hands after handling paper and coin money received and tendered.

8. Wash or sanitize hands before and after handling and disposing garbage.

9. Wash or sanitize hands after blowing your nose, coughing, sneezing or rubbing your eyes.

10. Wash or sanitize hands after checking your mail and touching the mailbox. Also Wash or sanitize hands before and after using grocery store carts and touching vending machines.

Also don't forget to regularly clean the bottom of your purse, back pack or brief case because these are generally in contact with the floor and other dirty surfaces and can be a harbinger of germs.

Use common sense with hand washing and hand sanitizing to help avoid the spread of germs and bacteria that lurk all around us. It will only take a few minutes a day but could save a long bout with illness or catching the swine flu or other flu.